KEY POINT
- Harry wrote in Spare that he told William he was dating Meghan Markle in October 2016.
- The Duke of Sussex recalled a two-word response from William after sharing the news.
- The brothers’ relationship later became strained following Harry and Meghan’s departure from royal duties in 2020.
Prince Harry’s relationship with Meghan Markle began a new chapter in his relationship with his brother Prince William when he told the future king about the romance in October 2016.
In Spare, Harry described William’s reaction to the news in unusually direct terms. The memoir records the two-word response Harry says his brother gave after learning that Meghan had become part of his life.
The exchange came before Harry and Meghan’s relationship became a major part of the British royal family’s public story. At the time, Harry was still carrying out his role as a senior working royal, while Meghan was entering a relationship that would eventually lead to her becoming a member of the Royal Family.
Harry and Meghan later married and continued their royal duties before stepping away from their positions as senior working royals in 2020. The couple subsequently moved to Montecito, California, where they began building a life outside the United Kingdom and pursued financial independence.
Their departure also became a major turning point in the relationship between Harry and William. The brothers, once frequently seen together at public engagements, have since been described as estranged.
Harry and Meghan subsequently discussed aspects of their experiences within the Royal Family through high-profile interviews and a Netflix documentary series. These public accounts brought renewed attention to disagreements and tensions surrounding their time as working royals.
The memoir Spare provided another detailed account from Harry’s perspective, including personal memories involving William and other members of the Royal Family. His recollection of William’s response to Meghan therefore forms part of a much larger account of the brothers’ relationship.
The exchange is notable because it occurred before the major public changes that later reshaped Harry’s position within the Royal Family.
In October 2016, Harry was informing his brother about his relationship with Meghan; several years later, Harry and Meghan had left their senior royal roles and relocated to the United States.
Harry’s account of the exchange remains part of the broader personal history he presented in Spare, while the relationship between the Sussexes and the wider Royal Family has continued to receive public attention.
When did Prince Harry tell William about Meghan Markle?
Harry wrote that he told William about his relationship with Meghan in October 2016.
Where did Harry describe William’s reaction?
Harry recalled the exchange in his memoir Spare.
What happened to Harry and Meghan after leaving royal duties?
The couple moved to Montecito, California, and began pursuing financial independence outside their former senior royal roles.
